AUGUST 2008

Weather clamps down AILA

Several flights had to be rerouted to Punta Cana, Santiago and Puerto Plata

Torrential rains forced the International Airport of Las Americas (AILA) to close landing and departure operations yesterday from 3:35 to 5pm, as reported in Diario Libre.

Several flights had to be rerouted to Punta Cana, Santiago and Puerto Plata international airports due to low visibility.

The Listin reports that flight AA1520 from NY was detoured to Puerto Plata, while flight IB6501 from Spain was sent to Punta Cana. American Eagle flights 5039 and Jet Blue’s 781 flight had to land in Santiago.

The Weather Department explains the tropical wave will pass over the DR today, but rains are forecast to continue through Saturday.

DR1, 01.08.08

Busiest Dominican shopping street, historic park get facelifts

Works cost RD $217 million

SANTO DOMINGO.- Villa Francisca and adjacent barrios celebrated the inaugural of the remodeled Enriquillo park and the Duarte avenue’s conversion into a « business stroll » last night, and after president Leonel Fernandez cut the ribbon a throng of children and adults flung aside the barriers that kept it closed and invaded it with a roar.

For years the park, of the city’s first, was used as a trash dump and shelter for vagrants and the homeless.

The country’s busiest shopping district now has 5 meter-wide sidewalks, street-lighting between the Paris and Mella avenues, buried cables, and security cameras, works which the Public Works Ministry said cost RD $217 million.

Enriquillo park’s new street lighting also cover its surroundings and has more than 100 benches, remodeled pavilion and new shrubs, works which the National District City Council said cost RD $300 million.

Dominican Today, 04.08.08

Inauguration of the Archaeological Museum

An attractive place

The management of the « Faro a Colón » inaugurated the Archaeological Museum in the presence of ambassadors, civil servants, historians, professors, researchers and students.

By making the inaugural speech, the manager of the « Faro a Colón », Andy Mieses, expressed that during his management he proposed the vocation of service which must dominates within an entity responsible for the promotion of the cultural heritage.

He explained that the opening of the museum is an action of the government which is framed in the cultural policy traced by President Leonel Fernández.

The ambassador of Spain, Diego Bermejo; the minister of the embassy of Taiwan, Jorge Cheng; the under-secretary of the Culture, Lourdes Camilo de Cuello and the National Coordinator for the European Funds, Onofre Rojas attended the opening ceremony of the museum.

5 centuries of history

Mieses said that the museum kept five centuries of history in original pieces of great historical and cultural value, going from human bones and military symbols to instruments of navigation.

He stressed that among these relics appear guns, swords, jars, bells, boats reproductions, anchors, pulleys and other pieces delivered by the Members of the Commission of Archeological Safeguard created during year 1979.

El Caribe, 06.08.08

Chavez, Uribe will meet again in Dominican capital

Leonel Fernandez’s third term

SANTO DOMINGO.-The presidents of Colombia, Alvaro Uribe, and of Venezuela, Hugo Chavez have confirmed their presence and will meet in the Dominican capital for the second time this year, when they attend the inaugural of their colleague Leonel Fernandez’s third term August 16.

So far the presidents of Taiwan, Costa Rica, Guatemala, El Salvador, Haiti and of the Spanish Government, the Spanish prince, and Belize prime minister Dean Barrow will also be present, whereas others have yet to confirm.

Fernandez said he warmly asked Uribe to be with us in this occasion and he has pledge it so. He was with us in 2004 and I was also in his inaugural in Colombia.

Uribe and Chavez took center stage in the Rio Group Summit held in Santo Domingo in early March, where Fernandez managed to get them and Ecuador president Rafael Correa to « shake hands » on the conflict prompted by the Colombian Army’s incursion into the latter’s territory.

Dominican Today, 07.08.08

Few changes expected in Fernández cabinet

As a democracy becomes more consolidated, the stability of its public officials is also consolidated…

SANTO DOMINGO.- Because of the commitment of the present government to maintain economic stability and the crisis situation that precedes the third term of President Leonel Fernández, the economic team is projected to be the area of fewest changes on 16 August.

Héctor Valdez Albizu, the governor of the Central Bank; Temístocles Montás, the Minister of the Economy, Planning and Development; Vicente Bengoa, the Minister of the Hacienda; Rafael Camilo, the Superintendent of Banking; Daniel Toribio, the administrator of the Reserve Bank; Juan Hernández, the director of Internal Taxes, and Miguel Cocco, the director of Dominican Customs, are Fernández’ economic team.

In an interview that Fernandez gave towards the end of the election campaign, he told the Spanish « El País » that as a democracy becomes more consolidated, the stability of its public officials is also consolidated…you can’t get rid of all of the officials, because there is an accumulated experience that that you just can’t do without. And right away he added, but you also need new ones, that bring new enthusiasm, new vitality.

In spite of this trust in a team that acted many times on contingency, there are speculations beginning to arise that mention various possible changes.

There is talk of an exchange of posts between Bengoa (Hacienda) and Camilo (Superintendent of Banking). However, persons who know about the dynamics of the Presidential Palace argue that Fernández has in Bengoa, a childhood friend, a man willing to resolve any economic issue taken up by the President without any « buts » , even if other members of the team are against the measure.

An exchange of posts could also come between Bengoa and Toribio (Reserve Bank). Even though there are complaints among high party officials about the timid election activity of Toribio, the assets of the bank continue to grow and talk loudly in favor of the head of Economic Affairs of the PLD.

Several PLD leaders see that Miguel Cocco, who has suffered several lapses in his health, might be relieved from his post as head of Customs, but it is thought that Fernández will leave that decision up to the official himself.

Diario Libre, 08.08.08

JetBlue announces its services between San Juan and Santo Domingo

Non-stop flights

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico.- Economic JetBlue Airways (Nasdaq: JBLU) announced today that it is planning the launching of its first Inter Caribbean service with daily flights without stopover between San Juan and Santo Domimngo from December 18, 2008, subjected to approval of the government.

The weak tariffs start from 89 US $ one way or return journey and they offers a saving up to 61% of the current low tariff offered on this route.

JetBlue will also offer an imporved service between the continental United States and the Caribbean for the winter holiday season with non-stop flights between Santo Domingo and Boston, also subjected to the approval of government, and will add more flights on the existing routes from San Juan to Boston and from Puerto Plata, Santiago and Santo Domingo to New York.

El Nuevo Diario, 11.08.08

Training of the future Subway managers

Six daily hours during two months

SD.- With an investment of RD $ 7 million, the Office for the Reorganization of Transport (Opret) began the training of 264 students of the Autonomous University of Santo Domingo (UASD) who will be the first managers of the Subway of Santo Domingo.

The graduates of various careers are prepared by the technicians Mario Gil and Francisco Uribe, executives of the Subway of Madrid, and Gaviria Oscar, railway consultant of Colombia.

The vice-superintendent of eduction of the UASD, Rafael Nino Feliz, responsible to recruit the students, said that those will be in training during six daily hours for two months.

The majority are students of twelfth grade who will work as managers, administrative collaborators and to the services attribution.

Diario Libre, 12.08.08

12 streets will be closed around the Palacio

To protect the presidents

SANTO DOMINGO. – On Saturday 16, the Government will close a polygon of 12 streets around the presidential palace as security measures for the presidents and political personalities who will come to the nomination of the re elected President Leonel Fernández.

Rafael Núñez, director of Press of the Presidency, said that the sector which will be closed is between México and César Nicolás Penson Avenues, and between Delgado and 30 de Marzo Avenues.

The civil servant ensured that everything is ready for the nomination and he indicated that the president will arrive to the Congress where he will be sworn in, and then will go to the house of the Government to swear in the new members of the Cabinet.

He will go then to the Cathedral and then will deposit a floral offering on the altar of the Fatherland, he explained.

Al Momento, 13.08.08

Chávez won’t come to the nomination of Leonel

Venezuelan Finance Minister will attend the ceremony

CARACAS, (AFP) - The Finance Minister, Alí Rodriguez, will represent the Venezuelan government on next Saturday at the time of the takeover of Dominican president Leonel Fernández, informed this Thursday the Foreign Affairs ministry in an official statement.

From Santo Domingo, the presence of the Venezuelan president Hugo Chávez to the nomination ceremony was confirmed.

The agent will travel on Friday to the takeover of Paraguayan president Fernando Lugo.

Leonel Fernández will begin this weekend his third mandate in Dominican Republic.

A group of Venezuelans civil servants will travel with Alí Rodriguez to Santo Domingo to Ratify the excellence of the relations with the country.

According to the Foreign Affairs ministry, Chávez and Fernández maintain « strategic » relations and they share the same interest to work together on the level of the energetic and food sectors.

Moreover, both are in agreement as for the need for providing a greater aid to the Haitian people .

Hoy Digital, 14.08.08

Leonel implements a new Cabinet

He confirmed the positions of 13 civil servants of the past management

President Leonel Fernandez conformed his new Cabinet yesterday where he introduced changes in the secretariats of Armed Forces, Presidency, Education, of the Woman, Industry and Commerce, Tourism, Environment, Work and Youth, whereas he confirmed the positions of 13 civil servants of the past management.

The new civil servants sworn by President Fernandez are the major general of the Air Force, Rafael Peña Antonio, designated as Chief of the Armed Forces; César Pina Toribio, as Presidence secretary; Melanio Paredes, in Education; Alejandrina Germán, in the Woman secretariat; José Ramón Fadul, for Industry and Commerce; Francisco Javier as Tourism secretary ; the former vice president of the Republic, Jaime David Fernández Mirabal, as Environment secretary; Max Puig, for the Work and Franklin Rodríguez, for the Youth secretariat.

The new civil servants designated, Rodríguez, Puig, Fernández Mirabal and Javier García were outside of the government in the past management of President Fernandez.

The civil servants confirmed in the presidential cabinet are Carlos Morales Troncoso, in the Chancellery; Luis Manuel Bonetti, Administrative secretary of the Presidence; Juan Temistocles Montás, in Economy, Planificationen and Development, and Radhamés Jiménez Peña, as General Prosecutor of the Republic.

President Fernández also confirms in his positions Vicente Bengoa, as Finance secretary, Franklin Almeida Rancier, in Interior and Police force; Loved Ligia Melo, for the Superior Education, Science and Technology, Felipe Payano, as Sport secretary, Salvador Jiménez, in Agriculture; Victor Diaz Rua, in Public Works; José Rafael Lantigua, in Culture; Bautista Rojas Gómez, in Public Health, and Ramón Ventura Camejo, in Public Administration.

President Fernandez arrived to the Governement House at 1:20 p.m, after having been sworn by the National Assembly, headed by the president of the Senate, Reinaldo Pared Pérez, where he made a speech and he presented to the country his program of government.

The oath ceremony began at 2:17 p.m in the Ambassadors Hall and was terminated an half hour later.

Hoy Digital, 16.08.08

Senior Dominican Government official refuses Cabinet swap

Irrevocable decision

SANTO DOMINGO. - Alejandrina German said she won’t accept the designation as minister of Women and is prepared to submit her resignation to president Leonel Fernandez in the next few hours.

A source said the former Education minister stated her discontent with the post as early as Saturday when Fernandez’s decrees were being disclosed, and again last night, when a National Palace source affirmed that the prominent ruling PLD party leader wrote the Head of State to convey her decision, reportedly « irrevocable ».

According to the source quoted by newspaper El Dia, international presidential advisers and officials based in the Palace had an influence in German’s substitution.

Dominican Today, 18.08.08

Dominican capital has a new prosecutor

New designations

Santo Domingo.- President Leonel Fernandez designated Alejandro Moscoso as Prosecutor of the National District, replacing Jose Manuel Hernandez.

Decree 322-08 contains the designation, and also names Lino Vásquez as coordinator of the Justice Reform and Modernization Support Commission, the position Moscoso held until yesterday.

Dominican Today, 19.08.08

New chiefs of DNCD and DNI

Decrees

SANTO DOMINGO.- President Fernández continued « shaking the tree » in his administration, designating Alejandro Moscoso Segarra as the prosecutor for the National District and Major General Manuel de Jesús Pérez Sánchez as the National Director of Prisons. He also installed former Minister of the Armed Forces, Major General Ramón Antonio Aquino García as the new head of the National Investigation Department (DNI).

In addition, according to Decree 323-08, the Chief Executive designated General Carlos Robles Díaz as the director of the Specialized Corps of Airport Security (CESA), in substitution of General Juan Bautista Rojas Tabar. General Santo Domingo Guerrero Clase was named director of the Specialized Corps of Frontier Security (Cesfront) and Rear-Admiral Miguel Ángel Álvarez Herrand was promoted and named director of the Specialized Corps of Port Security.

In other decrees, the Executive Branch designated General José Ignacio Sandol Cabrera as the sub-director of the Social Security Institute of the Armed Forces, and Decree 325-08 designated Air Force General Gilberto Delgado Valdez as the new chief of the National Drug Control Department (DNCD) in substitution of Major General Rafael Ramírez Ferreira, who was named inspector general of the Armed Forces.

Diario Libre, 20.08.08

Entities announce another push to clean up Dominican capital’s waterway

With the support of the Sans Soucí Project

SANTO DOMINGO. - The city councils of the National District, Santo Domingo East and North, together with the Navy agreed to recover and clean up the Ozama and Isabela rivers during eight months, including the relocation of families who live in the area.

The announcement is the latest push to cleanup the Dominican capital’s waterway, whose pollution has kept away investors and development.

The mayors Roberto Salcedo, of the Capital, Juan de los Santos, of Santo Domingo East, Jesus Felix, Santo Domingo North and Navy chief Julio Cesar Ventura announced the project and said the damages will be assessed and which are the companies that throw their waste into the waterway.

They said each industry will have to have its own treatment plant and stricter measures will be taken against those that don’t adhere to the disposition.

Ventura said sailors will be deployed with barges to cleanup the rivers in coordination with the city councils.

The program has the support of the Sans Soucí Project, which has installed nets to trap flotsam on the Ozama and Isabela rivers.

Dominican Today, 21.08.08

Third largest Dominican political party crumbles

Several of its senior leaders have opted to quit

Santo Domingo.- Social Christian Reformist Party (PRSC) general secretary Victor Gomez Casanova today said he’ll resign from his post due to the crisis that affects the organization, rocked by major political setbacks and of its leadership.

The announcement comes just months after the PRSC’s dismal 4.80 percent of the votes in the May 16 elections, and after several of its senior leaders have opted to quit over the last few months.

However, he clarified that he would leave the party’s leadership but won’t abandon his status as a « Balaguerista reformista ».

I’m not going to the PLD, I‘m not going to PRD, I‘m not interested in anything other than defending the best interests of my party, he said in reference to the continued exodus of his colleagues to the ruling PLD party.

Dominican Today, 22.08.08

Dominican capital’s subway to run in November, official says

The start date is firm

Santo Domingo.- The Transport Reform Office (Opret) concentrates all its efforts into placing the first line of the Santo Domingo Metro (Subway) into operation by November, and commuters can ride it on that date as planned.

Opret assistant director Leonel Carrasco said the start date is firm, although he cannot talk of a second line. I’m not into thingking of that, I’m into finalizing the first line to hand it over, because we have a very strict program for November.

He said the cars are being received, the elevators are being finished, ant that’s what we are concerned about. As to the other (2nd line) I cannot advance anything.

Dominican Today, 25.08.08

Almost 1M vehicles can renew their plates as of today

Renewal will cost the same as last year

SANTO DOMINGO. - The Internal Taxes Agency (DGII) said the renewal of stickers for motor vehicle plates starts Tuesday morning in different financial agencies, a process to last only three months.

DGII director Juan Hernandez said the Government decided not to raise the fee for inflation, for which the renewal will cost the same as last year, or RD $1,200 for the year models until 2003 and RD $2,200 for 2004 and newer.

Vehicle owners can renew the stickers in 300 offices of various savings and loans associations, and the banks Ademi, BDI, BDA and Las Americas. Also via the Web at www.dgii.gov.do, a process which lasts six days for residents in the city and 10 days for the interior.

Hernandez said the Government expects to collect from 1.2 to 1.3 billion pesos, as some 900,000 automobiles are expected to renew their tags.

Dominican Today, 26.08.08

Meeting of Petrocaribe technicians’ Technical Work Group

During two days in Santo Domingo

SANTO DOMINGO. - Dominican Republic is the seat as from this Wednesday of the 5th Meeting of the Technical Work Group of Petrocaribe as regards gas which take place during two days in the Capital.

Representatives of seven countries of the sector will attend this meeting, which will start today from 8:00 a.m. in the Esmeralda room of the Quinto Centenario Hotel.

A bulletin of the direction of Communications of the Secretariat of Finances informs that the Dominican Republic will be represented by the Minister of Finances, Vicente Bengoa.

Representatives of Nicaragua, Jamaica, Venezuela, Guatemala, Suriname, Haiti and Dominican Republic will participate to this meeting.

This meeting will be used as a scene to analyze and discuss subjects in relation with the natural gas supply in the Caribbean, Central and South America markets within the framework of the Petrocaribe agreement.

Al Momento, 27.08.08

South American-Dominican gas pipeline plan picks up steam

Meeting of the Petrocaribe Coordinating and Focal Points Committee

SANTO DOMINGO. – Just one week after Colombia revealed a reluctance to materialize a gas pipeline to expand the propane gas supply to Dominican Republic, Venezuela’s government yesterday proposed the construction of that project that would also supply Haiti.

Aníbal Rosa, president of the Petrocaribe oil deal, said the pipeline would reach important zones of the country to spur its internal development, and even the neighboring country.

Rosa, speaking in a meeting of the Petrocaribe Coordinating and Focal Points Committee, said technicians from 14 countries discuss how to supply the fuel to the Caribbean islands and Central America.

When asked about the fees that will prevail, Rosa said for that type of economic agreements, It’s necessary to establish the general and particular framework to specify values, though clarified they would be below the international market.

The president Hugo Chavez intention is solidarity with our nations, the official said, and specified that until recently gas cost 15 dollars per 1 million BTU.

He said it would be beneficial as a fuel, for industry and power plants.

In the activity, with the participation of Hacienda minister Vicente Bengóa that will conclude today in the hotel V Centenario.

Dominican Today, 28.08.08

Dominican President hands the cash out to Olympic medalists

National Palace ceremony

SANTO DOMINGO.- President Leonel Fernandez congratulated the Olympic medalists of Peking 2008, Felix Diaz and Gabriel Mercedes, winners of the gold medal in boxing and the silver in Tae Kwon Do, respectively.

In the National Palace ceremony, the chief executive kept his promise of awarding the winners of a gold with RD $7 million and RD $5 million for silver.

Dominican Today, 29.08.08

Santo Domingo Live